Electric tester



1 Hf c. sMlDA ELECTRIC TESTER Aug. 2o, 1940.

Filed Jan. 24, 1959 Inventor tiorneys Patented Aug. 20, 1940 UNITED kSTATES 4PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to an electric tester to be employed by electricians, automobile mechanics and other persons desiring to locate easily and quickly trouble in electric circuits, electrical equipment, such as lamp sockets, switches, etc., and has for the primary object the provision of a device of this character which may be conveniently carried in a persons pocket or a tool kit and is convenient to operate, simple to construct and is compact, durable and may be manufactured and sold at a low cost.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and varrangement o parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invenl tion, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating an electric tester constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View illustrating the device.

Figure 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, illustrating an insulated electric conductor an'd penetrating element.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 5 indicates the holder of the device consisting of a metallic tube 6 having one end portion of an increased diameter and provided in its end with bayonet slots 1 forming said end into an electric lamp socket especially adaptable to receive an electric lamp 8 in which the base 9 thereof is equipped with pins I0 to enter the bayonet slots l for retaining the electric lamp in frictional contact with the tube and with a con-' tact II forming an integral part of an electric conductor rod I2. The conductor rod is covered with insulating material I3 and is provided at one eind with an integral disc IIIy having frictional contact with the tube 6 and providing a seat for one end of a coil spring I5, the other end of said spring engaging a seat I6 fixed in the tube 6. The action of the spring I5 is to urge the contact II into engagement with the contact of the base 9 of the lamp 8.

The conductor rod I2 extends into a bore of a metallic member Il which extends outwardly of one end of the tube 6 and has a portion of the bore thereof increased to receive therein the end of the insulating material I3. The metallic member Il also receives therein a penetrating conductor element I8 having direct contact with the conductor rod I2. An insulating sleeve I9 surrounds the metallic member Il and insulates the latter from the tube.

Mounted on the ends of the enlarged portion of the tube is an electric lamp guard or protector 20 constructed of rubber or any other material suitable for the purpose and of substantially cup shape with its open end positioned a selected distance beyond the electric lamp 8 so as to thoroughly guard the electric lamp against breakage but which will expose the electric lamp to view.

In operation, when it is desired to locate electric trouble in an electric circuit, an electric lamp socket or some other electrical equipment, the penetrating element I8 is placed in engagement with the hot wire of the circuit and if in- Sulated the penetrating elementmay readily pass through such insulation and the tube 6 is brought into engagement with the electric ground of the circuit vso that if the wire is hot the electric lamp 8 will be illuminated and, of course, if the lamp 8 fails to illuminate the trouble will then be known t0 be from that point in the hot wire to the electric source. To test an electric socket, for instance, the pointed element I8 is placed in the socket against one of the contacts and the tube 6 brought into engagement with the other contact. If the electric lamp illuminates it indicates that the socket is operative. The cited uses are only a few of many uses in which the present tester may be employed. It will be seen that the tester is extremely convenient to use and may be readily carried in a persons pocket or within a tool kit and will be durable and economical to manufacture.

It is believed that the foregoing description, when taken in connection with the drawing will fully set forth the construction and advantages of this invention to those skilled in the art to which such device relates, so that further detailed description will not be required.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

An electric tester comprising an elongated metallic tube having one end slightly increased in diameter to provide an electric lamp socket, an electric lamp mounted in said end of the tube, a conductor rod in said tube and engaging a contact of the electric lamp, an insulating cover for said rod to insulate the latter from the tube and having one end enlarged and frictionally engaging with the tube to center the rod in said tube and to form a seat, a second seat fixed in said tube, a coil spring interposed between said seats for urging the rod into engagement 5 tion of the conductor rod, a penetrating conducwith the electric lamp, a metallic sleeve extendwith a frictional fit and abutting the conductor ing into the other end of the tube and insulated Tod, and a Cup-shaped cushion guard for said therefrom and receiving therein with a frictional electric lamp and having a frictional t with said fit a portion of the insulating cover and a portube.

HENRY C. SMIDA. tor element extending into the metallic sleeve 

